Dolphins Lose Zach Sieler for Season
Miami's starting defensive tackle will undergo surgery for a ruptured biceps after the injury occurred in the team's loss to Detroit.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football
The Miami Dolphins lost defensive tackle Zach Sieler for the season after he ruptured his biceps in the team's loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Sieler reportedly suffered the injury on the first play of the game and played through it.
Why it matters
The loss of Sieler removes a key interior defensive presence from the Dolphins' rotation during the remainder of the season. The timing coincides with the NFL trade deadline, which had been expected to bring interest in the veteran lineman.
Sieler is expected to need five to six months to recover from surgery on the ruptured biceps. The source does not state whether the Dolphins will make a roster move to replace him before the trade deadline.
The players
Zach Sieler
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle who has been with the team since late in the 2019 season and is now out for the year with a ruptured biceps.
Drew Rosenhaus
Sports agent representing Sieler who publicly said he would be surprised if the Dolphins traded the player before the deadline.
The details
Sieler ruptured his biceps in Sunday's loss to the Lions and will require surgery. Without him, the Dolphins will rely more heavily on Jordan Phillips, Kenneth Grant and Zeek Biggers along the defensive line.
Timeline
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026: Sieler ruptures his biceps in the loss to Detroit.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, morning: ESPN reports the injury and surgery requirement.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, 4 p.m.: NFL trade deadline.
Season Trajectory
The Sieler injury lands days before the NFL trade deadline, a point in the calendar when contenders reshape depth charts for the stretch run. Losing a starting interior lineman this late in the season shifts how Miami's defense must be built through the remaining weeks.
Fantasy managers relying on Dolphins interior defensive players will need to reassess depth charts for the rest of the season. The removal of Sieler also places more snap responsibility on Phillips, Grant and Biggers in Miami's rotation.
The takeaway
A season-ending injury to a rotational lineman can quickly change a team's depth, so fans tracking Miami should watch the trade deadline and the depth chart updates that follow.
What happens next
Sieler will undergo surgery, and the Dolphins' roster decisions will be shaped by the trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Further reading
Explore more Miami Football coverage for context on the Dolphins' roster situation.
